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Eastern Snake Plain Comprehensive Aquifer Management Plan: A Positive Path Forward

This plan outlines a comprehensive approach to managing the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer in order to address the imbalance between water supply and demand. It includes objectives for managing water supply, creating alternatives to administrative curtailment, managing overall water demand, and increasing recharge to the aquifer. The plan also provides management options and estimated costs for implementation.

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Eastern Snake Plain Comprehensive Aquifer Management Plan: A Positive Path Forward

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  1. Eastern Snake Plain Comprehensive Aquifer Management Plan A Positive Path Forward Hal N. Anderson June 11, 2009

  2. Regionally Averaged Cool Season Anomalies (Source-U.W. Climate Impacts Group)

  3. Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer Model Water Budget

  4. Background • ESPA Framework Plan Process Initiated 2006, by SCR 136. • ESPA Framework Plan Developed and Adopted in 2007, HCR 28. • Advisory Committee Convened (2007) • ESPA Advisory Committee Recommendations Developed (2008) • Board Adoption of the ESPA Plan, January 29, 2009. • 2009 Legislature approved HB 264 approving ESPA Plan, Governor signed into law April 23.

  5. Framework Plan Recognized that water supply and demand were out of balance in the aquifer and the Snake River, making more deliberate and coordinated management of surface and ground water on the ESPA a necessity.

  6. Objectives for ESPA Management • Increase predictability for water users by managing for reliable supply. • Create alternatives to administrative curtailment. • Manage overall demand for water within the Eastern Snake Plain. • Increase recharge to the aquifer. • Reduce withdrawals from the aquifer.

  7. Management Options Costs are preliminary estimates for budget purposes only

  8. Management Options Costs are preliminary estimates for budget purposes only

  9. Management Options Costs are preliminary estimates for budget purposes only

  10. Weather Modification is a stand-alone option to be considered independently of packages Costs are preliminary estimates for budget purposes only

  11. Weather Modification Feasibility Study Estimated Streamflow Increases

  12. Management Alternative Packages Packages Developed include: • Small (300 KAF); least expensive and quickest to implement • Medium (600 KAF); more expensive and takes more time to fully implement • Large (900 KAF); most expensive and will take decades to fully implement • Demand Reduction and Recharge Emphasis

  13. Hydrologic Goal – 600 kaf Change • 600 kaf Water Budget Change • Robust mix of conversions, aquifer recharge, demand reduction and conservation strategies • Implementation Timeline – 20 years • Cost – $600 million not including O&M

  14. Phase I Actions Phase I (1 – 10 years) • Hydrologic target of 200kaf – 300kaf • Initiate actions that increase aquifer levels, and spring and river flows • Geographically distributed across the ESPA • Build institutional confidence with long-term plan implementation

  15. Phase I Actions • Groundwater to Surface Water Conversions • Managed Aquifer Recharge • Demand Reduction • Buyouts, buy-downs and/or subordination agreements • Rotating fallowing, dry-year lease agreement, CREP • Crop mix modification • Surface water conservation • Pilot Weather Modification Program

  16. CAMP Hydrologic Targets * 50kaf based on conservative estimate from Upper Snake Weather Modification Feasibility study

  17. ESPA CAMP Phase 1 ACTIONS - COST PER ACRE FOOT OF BENEFIT Notes :(1)It is assumed that the water users will take over annual O&M in these cases since these projects should reduce O&M costs from existing levels. (2) CREP has already achieved a 40 KAF water budget change so no additional costs are needed for this action unless CREP acreage decreases.

  18. ESPA CAMP Hydrologic Analysis A series of hydrologic analyses were conducted to determine the effects of the CAMP Phase 1 actions on aquifer levels and reach gains (spring flows) from the aquifer. The period of 1980-2005 was used as hydrologic input into the analysis. It was determined that over this time period, the Phase 1 CAMP actions could be achieved as follows: Phase 1 CAMP Action Average acre-feet/year Recharge (Snake River) 91,223 Recharge (Wood River) 22,565 Conversions 85,027 Surface Water Conservation 32,100 Weather Modification 51,500 Demand Reduction 44,835 TOTAL 327,250

  19. ESPA CAMP Phase 1Estimated Increase in Reach Gains (Spring Flows) from the Aquifer at Selected Locations

  20. ESPA CAMP Phase 1Estimated Increase in Ground Water Levels at Selected Locations

  21. ESPA CAMP Phase 1 Funding Participation Targets * Temperature Enhancement and Management Program

  22. Select Additional Plan Components • Designed to enhance coordination, decision making and aquifer management. • Environmental considerations, will seek to optimize outcomes for fish and wildlife, recreation, hydropower, municipalities, irrigation, aquaculture and other uses. • Clearinghouse, a flexible mechanism to connect willing participants. • Outreach and Education, initial emphasis on local governments, domestic well owners and consumptive water users. • Management Flexibility and Innovation, consider innovative strategies to solve water management problems.

  23. Comprehensive Aquifer Management and Planning Program • 2008 Legislation • House Bills No. 428 and 644 • Created Aquifer Planning and Management Program • Established Aquifer Planning and Management Fund • New Idaho Code Sections: 42-1779 42-1780

  24. Purpose • Conduct statewide comprehensive aquifer planning and management effort over a 10-year period • Avoid the Eastern Snake Plain conflicts in other areas of the state • Develop management plans for selected basins with potential ground-surface water conflicts or other potential conflicts

  25. Funding • 30 million dollar program to study and develop Comprehensive Aquifer Plans for 10 Major Aquifers. • Legislature Appropriated $20 million in FY2009. • Appropriated $274,900 to IDWR for first year of program • Interest from Fund will be routed back into Fund to extend funding for duration of program • Governor Recommended using $12 million in FY2010 to offset General Fund Shortage. • Remaining $8 million will fund completion of Rathdrum and Treasure Valley Aquifers and ESPA Monitoring through FY 2013.

  26. Original Schedule of Work Based on $20 Million (plus interest) Comprehensive Aquifer Management and Planning Revised Schedule of Work Based on $8 Million (plus interest)

  27. Ten Priority Aquifers

  28. Anticipated Technical Studies • Establish Monitoring Network • Develop Hydrologic Framework • Water Balance • Ground Water Model • Climate Change and Weather Modification feasibility. • Storage Opportunities

  29. Anticipated Planning Studies • Water Demand Projections (50 year) • Facilitators have been hired for Rathdrum and Treasure Valley. • Evaluate alternatives to meeting projected demands: • Water Use Transfers (i.e., ag to DCMI) • Weather Modification Feasibility • Aquifer Recharge • New Storage • Inter-basin Transfers

  30. Questions ?

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